History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 151

Author:
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1288

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

ject. Mr. Byers, Sr., died in February, 1843; his wife survived him, dying in 1856. Our subject was reared upon the home farm, where he spent his life engaged in farming. He received such education as the schools of that time afforded. Mr. Byers has always lived a retired life, a plain, unassuming farm- er, and is respected for his integrity by the people of his community. He has been a life-long Democrat. He was married in 1839 to Miss Sarah, daughter of John Caldwell, of Sandy Creek Township, who died in 1862, leaving five children: Charles W., deceased; Mary, Mrs. John Davis, of Greenville, Penn. ; Nancy J., Sinnus and John S.

THOMAS C. COCHRAN, merchant, Sheakleyville, Penn., is a son of Samuel and Mary (Cunningham) Cochran. The grandfather of our subject was Thomas Cochran, a native of Adams County, Penn., who settled in Sandy Creek Township, where our subject now resides, in 1812. He subsequently removed to Crawford County, Penn., and settled one mile east of where the town of Cochranton now stands, which place was founded by his son Joseph. Thomas is deceased. Samuel, the eldest son of Thomas, was born January 5, 1790, in Adams County, Penn., and removed to Mercer County with his parents. He was a farmer, and was also extensively engaged in the lumber business. His family consisted of ten children, five of whom are now living: James, who resides in Sugar Grove Township; William, of Sandy Creek Township; Mar- garet; Mary J., wife of A. D. McCracken, of Mill Creek Township, and Thomas C., who was born April 25, 1823. He received his education at the common schools. In 1851 he engaged in mercantile business in connection with T. K. Cochran, under the firm name of T. K. & T. C. Cochran, at Sheakleyville. In 1856 he severed his connection with T. K. Cochran, and formed the firm of Cochran & Robinson, which firm remained in existence until 1861, when he went to farming. In 1865 he again engaged in business with T. K. Cochran, and was connected with him until 1874, when T. K. Cochran sold his interest to T. A. Robinson, when the firm again took the name Cochran & Robinson, and remained so until 1879, when he, too, sold to Robinson. He then engaged in farming again, which occupation he followed until 1884, when he was appointed assignee for T. A. Robinson. The business then passed into the hands of Minnis & Thompson, and in 1885 he formed the present company of Cochran, Minnis & Co. Our subject was married twice, his first wife being Miss Sibby, daughter of Thomas Sterrell, of Erie, Penn., to whom he was married March 25, 1852. She died in September, 1877, leaving four children: Wilson H., attorney of Mercer, Penn .; Samuel S., of Sandy Creek Township; Joseph E., of Sandy Creek Township, and John K., of Sandy Creek Town- ship. He married for his second wife Arilla, daughter of Joseph Gordon, of Mill Creek Township, and by this marriage they have one child, Mary E. Our subject has served as school director about fifteen years, is a member of the United Presbyterian Church of Sheakleyville, of which he was elder for many years, and in politics he is a Republican. He was a delegate to the National Republican Convention, at Chicago, in 1884.

WILLIAM P. COUSE, of the firm of Morrison & Couse, stave manufacturers, post-office Sheakleyville, Penn., was born in Sandy Creek Township Novem- ber 26, 1832. He is a son of James and Lydia (Wetmore) Couse, who came to this county from New York, about 1817, and settled one mile north of Sheakleyville. They reared a family of three children: A. W., William P. and F. H. James Couse was an enterprising farmer, was also engaged in the saw-mill and lumber business, and was recognized as a man of sterling integ- rity. He was an unceasing opponent of slavery, a warm friend of the op- pressed race, and a conductor on the underground railroad through this sec-

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

tion of the State, and assisted many a poor fugitive slave on the road to free- dom. He died upon the old homestead June 14, 1864, his widow surviving him till January 21, 1887. Our subject was reared on the old homestead, receiving a good education, and taught school several terms in his native township. He was engaged in the lumber business with his father, and was one of the pioneer oil operators of Venango County. In 1872 he formed a partnership with Hon. Levi Morrison for the manufacture of shingles and staves, this firm being among the pioneer dealers in the latter commodity. They have carried on the stave business for a number of years in West Vir- ginia. Mr. Couse is also interested in the grist and saw-mills of Sheakleyville. He was married October 14, 1862, to Miss Sarah I., a daughter of Isaac Phillips, whose family sketch appears in this chapter. Three children have been born of this union: Edwin, Emily and Charles. At the time of Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania Mr. Couse joined Company H, Fifty-fifth Pennsyl- vania Volunteer Militia, which was afterward mustered into the United States service. Since reaching manhood Mr. Couse has taken an active interest in the growth and development of the public schools of Sandy Creek. He is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Sheakleyville, a class-leader in that body, and superintendent of the Sabbath-school, and is one of the enterprising and respected citizens of his native township.

SOCRATES DUNN, farmer, post-office Sheakleyville, son of James and Maria (Thompson) Dunn. The grandfather, Alex. Dunn, was a native of Eastern Pennsylvania. He settled in French Creek Township, Crawford County. He was a farmer and one of the early justices of the peace, appointed by Gov. Snyder in 1809. The father of our subject was born in Crawford County, and settled where the borough of Sheakleyville is now located in 1828. He entered the service of the United States in the War of 1812, at the age of twelve years. By occupation he was a carpenter, and was engaged for many years at that trade. He was the father of thirteen children: William T., Mary L., Alex- ander, deceased; Maria B., deceased; Socrates, Euphrates, deceased; Sarah C., Harriet, Hettie, James J., Arvilla, Julia, deceased, and Lucy, deceased. He was burgess of Sheakleyville, and filled the office of postmaster for eight years, and was a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of that village. His wife died in 1865, and he in 1874. Our subject was born in June, 1831, and was reared on a farm. At the age of twenty-four he located on his present farm, lying within the borough of Sheakleyville, where he has farmed with good success. He was married in 1856 to Sarah, a daughter of Thomas D. Richardson, of Mercer County, by whom he had the following children: William J. ; George E., deceased; Laura A., married Charles D. Ray; Hettie M., Charles T., Frank B., Sarah E. and Mary A. Mr. Dunn is a Prohibitionist, and one of Sandy Creek's progressive farmers.

THE MCCRACKEN FAMILY. - Among the early settlers of Mercer County was Alexander McCracken, a native of County Antrim, Ireland. He came to America some time in the last century, and his first settlement was east of, the Allegheny Mountains. He came to Mercer County in 1798, and settled in Sandy Creek Township. He married Mary Larimer, and his family consisted of eight children: James, John, Alexander, Thomas, Ann, married Robert Findley; Jane, married Joseph Williams; Mary, married John Cooper, and Martha, married John Williams. The children are all dead except Thomas, of this township. Alexander took up a tract of 400 acres, which has descended to his posterity. He was a public spirited man, and filled all of the prominent township offices, and was a leading member of the Presbyterian Church, of which he was a ruling elder for many years. The parents are both dead.

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

Thomas was born on the homestead May 9, 1829, was brought up a farmer, and educated in the common schools. He subsequently erected a saw-mill on Dawson's Run, in Sandy Creek Township, and for many years was engaged in the lumber business. Mr. McCracken has been twice married. His first wife was Elizabeth, daughter of John Williams, to whom he was married in 1831, and to them were born eight children, seven of whom are living: Louesa, wife of Wilson Eells; Mary J., wife of Edward Eells; John, Cyrenus, Thomas A., Sarah C., wife of Herman Dingman, and Frank S. His second wife was Miss Mary, daughter of William Logan, who died in 1866, leaving three children: William L., Martha F. and Margaret E. Our subject is a member of the Sheak- leyville Presbyterian Church, and is a Republican and one of Sandy Creek's oldest and most respected citizens.

SAMUEL H. MINNIS, merchant, Sheakleyville, son of Asher and Elizabeth (Newbold) Minnis, was born in Sandy Creek Township in 1840. Hugh Min- nis was the first of the family to come to this county. He was a native of Ireland, a pioneer of Washington County, Penn., and settled in Sandy Creek Township at an early period. He died before completing a house in which to locate his family, his death being the first that occurred in that township. His widow came to the county, bringing her six sons and two daughters, Of these children, Samuel was the ancestor of the Minnis family of Sandy Creek Township. He served through the War of 1812, and died on the old homestead. Asher, his only son, and the father of our subject, was born in the township, and became one of the best educated and most efficient school- teachers of that period, he having received his educational training under Prof. Gamble, who was the founder of Jamestown Academy. His children were eleven, nine of whom grew to maturity: Caleb, who died from exposure in the army; Squire, of Salem Township; Thornton A., of Sandy Creek Town- ship; Thomas B., Elmer E., Harry V., Nancy (since deceased), married James Osborn; Sophia, married Oliver McCracken; Clare, married Harvey Hazen, and our subject, who was reared and educated in the township. His early life was spent on the farm, and afterward in stock dealing. In 1864 he enlisted in the Second Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served under Phil. Sheridan until the close of the war. On his return from the war he resumed farming and stock dealing until 1884, when he purchased his stock of goods and has conducted a prosperous business since. He was married in 1867 to Miss Melinda, daugh- ter of James Keen, of Crawford County, Penn. She died in 1884, and he was again married, in 1887, to Augusta, daughter of John Davison, of Craw- ford County. He is a member of Elijah Thompson Post, G. A. R., of Sheak- leyville, and in politics he is a Republican.

HON. LEVI MORRISON, post-office Sheakleyville, Penn., is a son of Daniel and Julia Ann (Snyder) Morrison, the latter a daughter of Joshua Snyder, of Trum- bull County, Ohio. Daniel Morrison, the father of our subject, was a native of Butler County, Penn. In 1835 he came to Mercer County, and located in the southeast part of Sandy Creek, and purchased a farm of fifty acres. He was twice married. By his first wife he had eight children: Levi, Sarah Ann (deceased), Eleanor, Mrs. J. B. Yard, of Hubbard, Ohio; Joseph (deceased), Aseneth (de- ceased), Dillon P., manufacturer of staves, West Virginia; Julia E., wife of Alpheus Allen, of Hubbard, Ohio; Fannie, Mrs. Sylvester English, of Cochran- ton, Penn. Mrs. Morrison died in 1864. His second wife was Mrs. Maggie Hamilton, of Sheakleyville, Penn., by whom he had two children: Maggie C. and Phoebe C. He died in 1884. His widow survives him, and lives in Sheakley- ville, Penn. Our subject was born August 8, 1839, in Sandy Creek, and was educated at the common schools, completing his education at the Sheakleyville

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

High-school. In 1860 he engaged in the drug and grocery business at Sheakleyville, in which he was engaged for fifteen years. In 1870, in connec- tion with his brother-in-law, W. P. Couse, he engaged in the manufacture of shingles and staves, manufacturing the first sawed staves in this section of the country, and is at present one of the firm of Morrison & Couse, operat- ing extensively in this line at Elizabeth, Wirt Co., W. Va. Mr. Mor- rison takes an active interest in the public affairs of his county and borough, having served as school director for many years, treasurer, township clerk, etc., and in 1882 was a member of the State Legislature, being the only Republican elected from the county that year. Mr. Morrison is also a prominent member of the Baptist Church of Sheakleyville; was elected clerk in 1868, which office he has continued to fill until the present time. In 1885 he was elected moder- ator of the French Creek Baptist Association, held at Greenville, Penn. Po- litically he is a Republican. He was married May 28, 1867, to Miss Caroline S., daughter of Isaac Philips, of Sheakleyville, and by this union they have had three children: John L., Anna (who died at the age of ten, in 1884) and Nellie. In 1863 Mr. Morrison enlisted in Company H, Fifty-fifth Pennsyl- vania Militia, which was transferred to the United States service. Our subject. is a member of the G. A. R., Elijah Thompson Post, of Sheakleyville, Penn., also of the Royal Arcanum, French Creek Council 328, of Meadville, Penn.

GEORGE W. MOYER, farmer, post-office Sheakleyville, Penn., is a son of Daniel and Catherine (Madoria) Moyer. The grandfather of our subject was Philip Moyer, of Kutztown, Penn., who was a native of Berks County, Penn. He married Barbara Ditts, and they had one son, Daniel, who immigrated to Ohio in 1831, and located at Lordstown, Trumbull Co., Ohio. He afterward came to Mercer County, and settled in Sandy Creek Township, two and one- half miles west of Sheakleyville, where he died in 1866, his widow dying in 1883, in Meadville, Penn., at the home of her daughter, Catherine. She is buried in the old grave-yard at Sheakleyville. Our subject was born October 16, 1819, in Kutztown, Berks Co., Penn. He was reared and edu- cated in Berks County, Penn., and Ohio, at the public schools. He learned the trade of a blacksmith and carriage-maker at Warren, Ohio. He followed his trade, working in Philadelphia until 1843, when he located in Sheakleyville, Penn., and established the first manufactory for carriages and wagons in that borough. He conducted the business for some twelve years, when he pur- chased a farm one mile north of Sheakleyville, where he resided for a short time, when he returned to Sheakleyville, and in connection with W. G. Brown engaged in the banking business, which they operated some five or six years. In 1878 he removed to his farm where he now resides, which he had purchased in 1855, and has since been engaged in general farming. Our subject was the first burgess of Sheakleyville, and filled that office for two terms, and has served as school director. Mr. Moyer was married in February, 1843, to Miss Emeline, daughter of Adam Weir, one of the early hotel-keepers of Sheak- leyville, and by this union they have had three children: George, who mar- ried Teressa Canon, and has three children, Charley, Eva and Lillie; Emma, Mrs. Prentice Fry, of Meadville, and has one daughter, Anna; James F., who married Lillie Caldwell, and have three children, Lena, Estella and Mar- vin. Our subject is a member of the F. & A. M., also I. O. O. F. He is one of the enterprising citizens of Sandy Creek Township, and is a supporter of the Prohibition party.

WILLIAM PALM, deceased, was born in 1825, in Austintown, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and is a son of John and Sally (Beil) Palm. The father of our subject was a native of Cumberland County, Penn. He located in Trumbull

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

County, Ohio, and about 1835 he came to Mercer County and settled at Leech's Corners, where he remained for a few years, and then removed to Sandy Creek Township. He was a carpenter by trade, and while a resident of Ohio he was engaged in hotel business. After his removal to Mercer County he pur- chased the grist and saw mill at Leech's Corners, which he operated a few years. After his removal to Sandy Creek he built the grist and saw mill on Rinn's Run. He there died, and his widow survived him till 1850. Their family were: Peter, of Chicago, Ill .; Jacob, who died in Cumberland County, Penn. ; Mary (deceased), married Benjamin Ross, of Salem Township; Samuel, de- ceased; Elizabeth, deceased; David, deceased; William, deceased; Sarah A., who married James Rook, at whose death she married William Klingensmith, of Crawford County, Penn., and John, of Sandy Creek. Our subject was reared in Mercer County. He was bred a farmer, an occupation he always

followed. He located in 1847 on his late homestead, and the same year he was married to Miss Catherine, daughter of William White, one of Sandy Creek's prominent citizens, of which union five children survive: Andrew J., the publisher of the Western Press, of Mercer, Penn .; Milton A., physician of Dwight, Ill .; Emma; Rev. William J., of Omaha, Neb., and Myrta, Mrs. Charles Ogden, of Greenville, Penn. Mr. Palm was one of Sandy Creek's enterprising citizens, and politically he was a Democrat. He died on Wednes- day evening, October 10, 1888, after an illness of four months.

THE PHILIPS FAMILY .- Joseph Philips, the ancestor of the Philips family of Mercer County, came to America in 1755. He was born in 1716, but of his birthplace and parentage nothing is known by his family. In 1775, with his wife and three children, David, Josiah and John, he sailed from Pembrokeshire, South Wales, and made his first settlement in Chester County, Penn., where he followed the occupation of a weaver. His eldest son, the Rev. David Philips, was the progenitor of the Philips family of Mercer County. He served as a captain in the Continental army under Washington, and was one of the pioneer Baptist preachers of Western Pennsylvania, and is said to have preached at Sharon as early as 1801. He died in 1829, never having had any residence in Mercer County. He had thirteen children, none of whom are living. His descendants are scattered over Western Pennsylvania, Ohio and Tennessee. Thomas, his son, settled in Sandy Creek about 1798. He took up a tract of 424 acres of land. His patent calls for the land known as Phil- ipsburg, situated in Sandy Creek. He married Sarah B. Hazen, and by this union they had David, Isaac, Thomas, John, Sarah B., Mary and Martha. Thomas died in 1837, and his widow survived him until 1854. Isaac, the only living representative, now residing in Sandy Creek, was born October 1, 1803. He was reared and educated in the common schools of the day, and learned the trade of a tailor. In 1826 he located in Sheakleyville, and conducted that business until 1853, when he was elected justice of the peace for the borough, and filled that office for twenty-five years, giving his time and attention to the duties of that office. He married, in 1827, Miss Emily, daughter of William Church, of Sandy Creek Township, and by this marriage had eleven children, eight of whom grew to maturity: Clarinda, Mrs. Alexander Dunn; Elvira, widow of W. S. McCoy; Weltha, widow of David McDowell; Sarah, Mrs. William P. Couse; Augusta, deceased wife of Joseph Limber; Anna, deceased; Meranda, Mrs. John Clark, and Caroline, Mrs. Levi Morrison. Mrs. Philips died in 1885. He is a member of the Georgetown Baptist Church, and held the office of deacon for over forty years. Politically he is a Republican.

THE SHEAKLEY FAMILY. - Among the Irish immigrants to the colony of Penn- sylvania during the year 1751 were William Sheakley and wife, who settled in

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

what is now Mount Pleasant Township, Adams Co., Penn., then a portion of York County, close to the Maryland line. He was a man of industrious and frugal habits, and at his death, about 1799, had accumulated considerable property. About eight years prior to his death he sold his land, and removed into Franklin Township, four miles north of Gettysburg. During the last two years of his life he was entirely blind, and at his death left a family of two sons and one daughter: John, George and Margaret. In 1803 John Sheak- ley visited Mercer County, and purchased from William Byers 400 acres of land, on a part of which the village of Sheakleyville now stands. His purchase con- tained what the pioneers designated an improvement, consisting of an unfin- ished log cabin, surrounded by a small clearing. He returned to his home, and in the spring of 1804,sold his farm, lying in Cumberland Township, some three miles north of Gettysburg, and with his family of five sons and three daugh- ters removed to his new purchase in the unbroken forest of Mercer County. The farm he sold in Adams County was subsequently the home of Thaddeus Stevens for twenty-five years, and was also the scene of the first bloodshed in the great battle of Gettysburg July 1, 1863, forty-nine years after his removal there- from. At the time the Sheakley family settled in Mercer County there were no wagon roads in this part of the State, and emigrants were obliged to cut their way through the dense forest to their places of destination. In 1812 one of the sons, Alexander, died, leaving four sons and three daughters to assist the father in clearing the farm. These were William, Moses, George, John, Margaret, Ann and Fannie. The three first mentioned were among those pa- triotic pioneers who went to the defense of Erie when threatened by the Brit- ish in the War of 1812. In 1816 the father died, and his land was divided between his sons. The Pittsburgh & Erie Turnpike Road was surveyed through the Sheakley farm, and a town was subsequently laid out at that point. On the 4th of July, 1822, one of the ceremonies of the day was that of naming the village, which was called " Georgetown " in honor of the proprietor, George Sheakley. This was subsequently changed to " Sheakleyville," as a more ap- propriate remembrance of the family. Of the children of John Sheakley, Sr., we have gathered the following information: William married Easter Wallace and reared three sons, Thomas, William and John, and one daughter, Nancy, who married Thomas White, and died near Sheakleyville. Thomas and Will- iam reside near Sheakleyville, while John immigrated to Iowa after the war and there died. The parents lived and died near the village which bears their name. Moses married Susan Limber, and reared four sons and three daughters: Thomas, who died near Pittsburgh; James and W. H., residents of Green- ville, the former being now United States Commissioner for Alaska, stationed at Fort Wrangle; Moses, a resident of Grayson, Cal .; Mrs. Malinda Christy, of Greenville; Mrs. Mary Leech, of Salem Township, and Susannah, deceased. The father died on the old homestead in 1840, his widow surviving him until 1884, and dying in Greenville. George married Ann Wallace, who bore him one son, John W., deceased. His wife died, and he was again married to Cynthia Culbertson, and reared five sons and two daughters from this union: Joseph, who died in 1863; Alexander, of Ion City, Cal .; Hiram, of Crawford County; George, a farmer near Sheakleyville; Robert, who died in 1887 near that village, and Mrs. Mollie Tiffany, Mrs. James McNamara, and Mrs. Mar- garet Brown, all residents of Crawford County. The parents died near Sheak- leyville, where the father was justice of the peace twenty-five years. John married Susan Sellers, who died without issue, and he then married Susannah Coulter, and reared two children: Josiah, deceased, and Margaret, of Craw- ford County. He died near Sheakleyville, and his widow in Putnam County,

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

Ohio. Margaret married James Brush, Anne married Hugh Moore, and Fan- nie became the wife of Adam Hill, and all died in this county. All left large families, and many of their descendants are living in this part of the State.

JOHN W. SHEAKLEY, post-office Sheakleyville, Penn., is a son of John W. and Jane (Moffett) Sheakley, of Sheakleyville, Penn., and was born January 13, 1845. The father of our subject was one of the early merchants of Sheakley- ville, and subsequently removed to Cleveland, where he engaged in the mer- cantile business. He died there in 1859. His wife survived him, and mar- ried David Palm, of Venango County, Penn., where she died in 1875. Our subject was the only child, and was reared and educated in Sandy Creek Town- ship. He learned the carpenter trade, and followed it for an occupation until 1873, when he purchased his present farm, and has since been engaged in gen- eral farming in connection with his carpenter business. He was married, in March, 1878, to Miss Emma, daughter of Thomas Morrison, of Perry Town- ship, and by this marriage they have three children: Marshall L., Jennie E. and Mertie E. In politics he is a Democrat.

JOHN and ADAM THOMPSON, natives of County Antrim, Ireland, immigrated to America at an early date. They landed in Philadelphia, and while there purchased 200 acres of land, in what is now Salem Township, from a Revolu- tionary soldier, and settled upon the same. They subsequently purchased, in what is now Sandy Creek, a farm of 200 acres from David Chess, where David Thompson now lives. John subsequently traded his interest in the Salem farm for the Sandy Creek farm, and it then passed to his descendants. John

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History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 151

Author: Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk Number of Pages: 1288

Author:
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1288